Canadian Labour News

The Canadian Labour Congress is applauding a Supreme Court of Canada decision reaffirming that employment benefits for women who give birth are separate and distinct from parental leave benefits.

The unanimous decision, delivered Wednesday immediately following closing arguments, agreed with the BC Teachers Federation (BCTF) that denying parental benefits to birth mothers, because they received pregnancy benefits, was discriminatory.

The Canadian Labour Congress and Federally-Regulated Employers – Transportation and Communications sponsored a joint symposium in Toronto today on psychological health and safety in the workplace. The meeting included many Canadian unions that represent employees in the Federal jurisdiction and representatives of the major employers in the transportation and communications sectors.

The most important economic problem faced by Canadians today is not government deficits, and solutions are not to be found in returning to balanced budgets too quickly.

The most pressing problems faced by Canadians are a sluggish economic recovery, a stalled jobs market, and record-high levels of household debt, along with inadequate employment insurance coverage and lack of retirement security.

Despite the positive signs in the most recent labour force survey from Statistics Canada, the picture for the next generation remains bleak.

“Last month, another 26,000 young workers gave up looking for a job and left the labour market. If you look at the jobs that our economy has created for these young people over the past year, you'll see more part-time than full-time work. We need to do better for the next generation,” says Hassan Yussuff.

The organization was responding to Bank of Canada governor Stephen Poloz’ suggestions before a parliamentary committee earlier this week. Poloz proposed that young unemployed workers should pad their resumes by volunteering or taking on unpaid internships.

“Governor Poloz’ comments speak volumes about the bleak prospects for young workers,” said CLC president Hassan Yussuff.

The federal government’s announcements today on the Universal Child Care Benefit and income-splitting will leave most working families behind and discourage labour force participation, says Canadian Labour Congress president Hassan Yussuff.

“This is an expensive and reckless plan that ignores the reality faced by most working families today,” said Yussuff. “The government should be using the surplus in ways that benefit all Canadian families, not just the wealthiest 14 per cent,” he added.

The Conservative government likes to talk about “one million net new jobs” as proof of its ability to manage the economy. But a quick look at the facts reveals something closer to the reality Canadians are dealing with today.

Despite the government's rhetoric, Canada is currently 600,000 jobs short of where it should be to catch up to its pre-recession employment rate. To catch up, our economy needs to create 73,000 new jobs every month for the next year. Over the past year, the economy added 13,000 new jobs each month. That's less than one-fifth of what we need.

OTTAWA ― Over fifty human rights, religious, international development, trade union, women’s, teacher, student, community and investor organizations have released an Open Letter calling on the Canadian government to publicly urge Canadian companies whose apparel products are made in Bangladesh to contribute generously to a trust fund for the approximately 2,500 workers injured and the families of over 1,100 workers killed in the Rana Plaza building

OTTAWA ― The president of the Canadian Labour Congress says it's clear Canada's job market remains stuck in the mud and isn't going anywhere without immediate and forceful action, pointing to the loss of 112,000 private-sector jobs last month that resulted in an overall drop of 97,800 in the number of Canadian employees.

Canada's Labour Day weekend is a public holiday filled with memories of family, friends and community. While work is the last thing most people want to think about before they leave another summer behind, it's actually the reason why we have a long weekend and the means to enjoy it.

OTTAWA ― While today's revised job numbers from Statistics Canada show fewer jobs were lost than those originally reported, it's the same story as far as the quality of the new jobs available to Canada's 1.35 million unemployed workers. Between June and July of this year, Canada still lost 18,000 full-time jobs. Over the past twelve months, 75% of the jobs created were part-time.

Our statement from last week remains unchanged. The president of the Canadian Labour Congress continues to call for a national jobs strategy and leadership from government.

OTTAWA ― The president of the Canadian Labour Congress has renewed his call for a national jobs strategy, following the latest employment numbers from Statistics Canada that show nearly 60,000 full-time jobs were lost in July, only to be replaced with 60,000 part-time jobs.

“The jobs market is stuck. It needs help to get back on the road to economic recovery. But our governments continue to let the tires spin and tell us we're not stuck as deeply as the Americans. They do nothing, as more workers give up hope,” says Hassan Yussuff.

The CLC calls on the Canadian government to support talks between Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Hamas beginning in Cairo to find a lasting peace in the region. There is a window of opportunity for the Prime Minister and the Foreign Affairs Minister to work with the United States, the European Union and Nordic countries to pressure both parties to address the fundamental issues.

Hassan Yussuff, the President of the Canadian Labour Congress, says that Employment Insurance is failing unemployed workers in Canada, and those that pay into the program don't have enough say about how the money is spent.

OTTAWA ― The Canadian Labour Congress says that, despite the rosy picture painted by Conservative politicians in a new social media campaign, millions of Canadians are struggling to find full time jobs that pay decently. So far this year the working age population (15-64) has been growing 6 times faster than employment among working age Canadians.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) and the African Regional organization of the International Confederation of Trade Unions (ITUC-Africa) take decisive steps by bringing key stakeholders together.

OTTAWA ― Hassan Yussuff, the President of the Canadian Labour Congress, says that the labour movement in Canada has clearly and forcefully told the federal government that it has no business encouraging employers to tear up past pension promises and cut seniors' pensions.

OTTAWA ― The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) shares the sense of shock and dismay at the deep cuts announced by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Reacting to news that up to 1,500 jobs will be eliminated in the coming years and an abandonment of local television and radio services, CLC President Hassan Yussuff pointed his finger at the Harper government.

This week, Employment Minister Jason Kenney is coming to Toronto to host what's being billed as a “skills summit”― a grand meeting of some of the country's better minds to talk about fixing the disconnect between employers who can't find the skilled workers they require and a generation of Canadians who can't find the good jobs they need.